Thomas Hitzlsperger becomes first high-profile gay footballer

Former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger has become the most-high profile football figure to announce he is gay. The 31-year-old made the announcement in German newspaper Die Zeit.

Hitzlsperger retired from football at the end of the 2012-13 English Premier League season, during which he played under current Manchester United manager David Moyes at Everton.

Before moving to Everton, Hitzlsperger played for Wolfsburg in his native Germany. Sadly, as with much of the latter part of his playing career, injury restricted his appearances during the 2011-12 season.

Hitzlsperger spent the 2010-11 season with West Ham United but, despite two goals for the London club, injuries prevented him making a telling impact.

Hitzlsperger also enjoyed a successful international career, making 52 appearances for his country including a start for Germany in the final of Euro 2008 against Spain.

Hitzlsperger moved to England as an 18-year-old in August 2000, joining Aston Villa from Bayern Munich's youth set-up.

The midfielder returned to Germany in August 2005 when he moved from Stuttgart to Villa. Hitzlsperger won the German Bundesliga title with Stuttgart in the 2006-2007 season.

Hitzlsperger spent a season in Italy after leaving Stuttgart but only made six appearances for Lazio.

HIDE CAPTION

'I'm gay'

Early retirement

Wolfsburg woe

Unhappy Hammer

International career

Move to England

Bundesliga success

Italian sojourn

<<

<

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

>

>>

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Former Germany international footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger comes out as gay

The 31-year-old says he wants to further the debate about homosexuality in sport

Hitzlsperger played at the World Cup and European Championship for Germany

He said the viewpoint that "gays are soft" was a common and misplaced cliché

(CNN) -- His nickname on the football field was "Der Hammer" -- apt for a man who is keen to knock down the barriers faced by gay people in sport.

Thomas Hitzlsperger, a former Germany international, revealed Wednesday that he is gay, becoming the most high-profile soccer star to do so to date.

The 31-year-old, who retired from the game in September, told German newspaper Die Zeit that he wants to further the debate about homosexuality in sports, which has for long been a taboo.

"I'm coming out about my homosexuality because I want to move the discussion about homosexuality among professional sportspeople forwards," he said in an extract prior to the publication of a full interview on Thursday.

"It's been a long and difficult process. Only in the last few years have I realized that I preferred living together with a man."

Support was immediately forthcoming from Hitzlsperger's former Germany teammate Lukas Podolski, who plays for English Premier League club Arsenal. He said it was "a brave and right decision."

Rogers: Couldn't play soccer as openly gay

Fmr. NFL player: I was fired by a bigot

Russia will enforce anti-gay law

German national team coach Joachim Low said in a statement on the German Football Association's website: "Thomas has made this personal decision for himself, and should be treated with respect from all sides."

That Hitzlsperger's legacy may come to be dominated by his decision to reveal his sexuality shows how divisive the subject remains in football.

On the same day, French newspaper Le Parisien reported a documentary to be shown on Canal+ featured Paris-Saint Germain defender Alex expressing his faith-based disapproval of homosexuality.

The Brazilian international, who has also played for English Premier League Chelsea, is quoted as saying: "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Yves."

In February last year former United States international Robbie Rogers revealed he was gay on the day he announced his retirement from the game. He subsequently signed a contract with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy in May.